Welcoming Winnipeg:Reconciling our history

Welcoming Winnipeg is an initiative that responds to the national dialogue to re-examine historical markers and place names to resolve the absence of Indigenous perspectives, experiences, and contributions in the stories remembered and commemorated in Canadian cities.

This initiative is just one aspect of the reconciliation process we are committed to, and will help ensure that the contributions, experiences, and perspectives of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit are reflected truthfully in our stories, historical markers, and place names.Tell your story and be part of determining how to move forward in reconciling our City’s history.

You can subscribe to this list again at any time.Vous pouvez vous réinscrire quand vous voulez.

January 2018 – We want you to be a part of reconciling our story to ensure the Winnipeg of the future is welcoming to all.

Join us on our journey of reconciliation and tell your story about a place in Winnipeg that is important to you by leaving a voice message, sending a written story, or recording your story. Visit the Engage tab for more information.

Engage

Our city is a reflection of all of us and within our city lives our stories.

Your stories

We want you to join us in reconciling our history by sharing your stories and discussing how we can move forward.

Include your name, location of your story, and contact information to follow up. Your stories will become part of telling our city’s history. If you send your story through voicemail, email, or letter, we will contact you to get permission to use your story, by using any one of these methods you consent to this contact. If we do not receive permission to use your story before March 31st, 2019, your story and collected personal information will be deleted in its entirety, and not shared or used for any purpose. Stories may be used in future storytelling opportunities as outlined in the consent form, and will be stored with the City of Winnipeg on Winnipeg Public Library's PastForward digital public history site.

Complete an online survey

What makes a place welcoming? What creates a sense of belonging?

Tell us which places are most important to you and where you think we could do better in creating a space where everyone feels they belong. Tell us where and why.

Panelists Karine Duhamel, Lorena Sekwan Fontaine, Mary Jane Logan McCallum, Adele Perry, Jarvis Brownlie and others will discuss their perspectives on Indigenous stories and experiences related to historical markers, Indigenous place names, our shared history, and how the discussion applies in Winnipeg. Then it’s your turn to discuss and provide input on how we should move forward as a City.

To learn about some of the work and expertise of our panelists the Welcoming Winnipeg section of the Library's Indigenous Info Guide.

Project Timeline

Background

Winnipeg’s history

In Winnipeg, we have an opportunity to re-examine our relationship with Indigenous peoples and our relationship with the traditional lands on which Winnipeg was built. In some cases, historical markers commemorate historical figures that advocated, constructed, and participated in creating policies, laws, and legislation having devastating effect on the lives of Indigenous peoples, such as residential schools from 1880 to 1996.

With the arrival of Settlers in Canada, Indigenous territories were re-mapped and re-named, becoming the standard for cities that continue to grow within Indigenous territories. Indigenous place names are emerging as one instrument in the process of reconciliation; acknowledging the presence of Indigenous peoples and their longstanding relationships to territory and lands. Winnipeg, as an example, is on Treaty No. 1 Territory, and the Homeland of the Métis Nation.

The Treaty relationship is important to the City’s ongoing commitment to the Journey of Reconciliation. This has included: the Mayor declaring 2016 as the Year of Reconciliation; the City supporting the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action (43, 47, 57, 75, 77); over 70 percent of civic employees participating in training on residential schools to-date; establishing Winnipeg’s first Indigenous Accord; and, adopting a practice of territorial acknowledgements.

Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action

Welcoming Winnipeg aligns at a municipal level with TRC Call to Action #79 which states:

We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Survivors, Aboriginal organizations, and the arts community, to develop a reconciliation framework for Canadian heritage and commemoration this would include, but not be limited to:

Amending the Historic Sites and monuments Act to include First Nations, Inuit, and Métis representation on the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada and its Secretariat.

Revising the policies, criteria, and practices of the National Program of Historical Commemoration to integrate Indigenous history, heritage values, and memory practices into Canada’s national heritage and history.

Developing and implementing a national heritage plan and strategy for commemorating residential school sites, the history and legacy of residential schools and the contributions of Aboriginal people to Canada’s history.

Welcoming Winnipeg also aligns with the set of guiding principles for truth and reconciliation developed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada1 and adopted by Winnipeg’s Indigenous Accord, the 10 principles state:

1
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is the framework for reconciliation at all levels and across all sectors of Canadian society.

2
First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, as the original peoples of this country and as self-determining peoples, have Treaty, constitutional, and human rights that must be recognized and respected.

3
Reconciliation is a process of healing of relationships that requires public truth sharing, apology and commemoration that acknowledge and redress past harms.

4
Reconciliation requires constructive action on addressing the ongoing legacies of colonialism that have had destructive impacts on Aboriginal peoples’ education, cultures and languages, health, child welfare, the administration of justice, and economic opportunities and prosperity.

5
Reconciliation must create a more equitable and inclusive society by closing the gaps in social, health, and economic outcomes that exist between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians.

7
The perspectives and understandings of Aboriginal Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers of the ethics, concepts, and practices of reconciliation are vital to long-term reconciliation.

8
Supporting Aboriginal peoples’ cultural revitalization and integrating Indigenous knowledge systems, oral histories, laws, protocols, and connections to the land into the reconciliation process are essential.

9
Reconciliation requires political will, joint leadership, trust building, accountability, and transparency, as well as a substantial investment of resources.

10
Reconciliation requires sustained public education and dialogue, including youth engagement, about the history and legacy of residential schools, Treaties, and Aboriginal rights, as well as the historical and contemporary contributions of Aboriginal peoples to Canadian society.

1Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. What We Have Learned: The Principles of Truth and Reconciliation, 2015 (p. 3-4).

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are monuments and street names important to create a welcoming space?

The City of Winnipeg acknowledges the presence of Indigenous peoples and their territory where Winnipeg now resides and where Indigenous stories and perspective are not fully reflected through historical markers, Indigenous place names, or in the memories of our shared history.

Date added: January 25, 2019

Why is the City holding a public engagement process on this topic?

The public engagement strategy and activities scheduled in Winnipeg are necessary to invite input from the public on this important matter that is occurring nationally.

Of major cities in Canada, Winnipeg has the largest population of Indigenous peoples representing nations who have resided here for millennia. For this reason, it is imperative that Winnipeg takes leadership to build knowledge and understanding on this important matter.

Date added: January 25, 2019

Why is this only about Indigenous people and not other groups or communities?

We recognize that this issue is sensitive and complex and occurring on a national scale within various municipalities across Canada. Of major cities in Canada, Winnipeg has the largest population of Indigenous peoples representing nations who have resided here for millennia. The City of Winnipeg acknowledges the presence of Indigenous peoples and their territory where Winnipeg now resides, and where Indigenous stories and perspective are not fully reflected through historical markers, Indigenous place names, or in the memories of our shared history.

Date added: January 25, 2019

How are you ensuring that Indigenous people will be able to participate and provide their input?

We are working on various approaches and methods to ensure Indigenous people are included as part of this public engagement process. Ongoing consultation with Indigenous peoples is occurring to obtain guidance and input to inform this work and future related activities.

Date added: January 25, 2019

Is the City going to be tearing down monuments and renaming streets like has happened in other cities?

Welcoming Winnipeg is an initiative that responds to the national dialogue in major Canadian cities to re-examine historical markers and place names to resolve the absence of Indigenous perspectives, experiences, and contributions in the stories remembered and commemorated in Canadian cities. The City is opening the discussion with all Winnipeggers through this public engagement process, and will include direct public engagement and consultation with Indigenous peoples.

Date added: January 25, 2019

What is the outcome of this project going to be?

The feedback gathered through the public engagement process, including direct engagement and consultation with Indigenous peoples, will be compiled and used to help inform recommendations for Council’s consideration.

Date added: January 25, 2019

Where can I learn more about the City’s commitment to reconciliation efforts?

the Library's local history resources, including access to newspaper archives

books and other publications by the panelists from Welcoming Winnipeg's March 13th event

Submit Your Story

Our city is a reflection of all of us and within our city lives our stories.

Tell your story to be part of reconciling our story. There are other ways to submit your story, listed on the Engage tab.

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If you submit content to The City of Winnipeg (the “City”) to this Welcoming Winnipeg initiative, you will retain all the intellectual property rights associated with Your Story that you currently own. By submitting Your Story to the City, you give the City a perpetual, irrevocable, fully paid up, royalty-free, worldwide, unlimited license to collect, retain, use, distribute, reproduce, create derivative works from, modify, and publicly display, publish, and/or perform your story.

Thank you for submitting your story. If you provided your consent to be contacted regarding your story, we may contact you in the future.